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Friday, 2 May 2014

Sepia Saturday - Let the Merry Cymbals Sound

Sepia Saturday give bloggers an opportunity to share their family history through photographs

When I saw this week's prompt, it reminded me of only one photograph in my collection. Here
I am in the opening chorus of Gilbert & Sullivan's "Patience" which is a skit on Oscar Wilde
and the aesthetic movement. I am one of the "20 lovesick maidens we"
- second standing figure on the right, plucking my cardboard lyre.

A chorus from the Act One finale perfectly echos the prompt picture as we came on stage singing

"Let the merry cymbals sound

Gaily pipe Pandean pleasure

With a Daphenphoric bound

Tread a gay but classic measure"

Our
affections and affections change and by the end of the show we
have forsaken our medieval drapery for brighter everyday garb - mine
(third from the right) was rather a garish red stuart tartan dress with a
bustle and lots of ruffles which I was told to take home and press - a
pain to do.

High School introduced me to Gilbert &
Sullivan (also a favourite of my mother's) and I was "hooked", singing
in most of the operas over the years. Today G & S has fallen out
of favour with young ones, but it was such fun, happy to sing, even
better to take part in a production and I defy anyone not to feel uplifted afterwards.

At
University, I joined the Savoy Opera Group and the annual G & S
performances were the highlight of my year. I loved taking part in them
- the dressing up (the girls made their own costumes), the singing and
some dancing, plus the camaraderie and friendships built up over
intensive rehearsals. We thought we were great!

I remain a great Gilbert and Sullivan fan - but my stage performances have long since passed.

How well I know, as you, the fun & reward of playing parts on the stage . . . especially when music & comedy are involved. I once had a friend who said comedies, melodramas, & musicals weren't "real" acting. Balderdash!!!

How clever to pick up onthe cymbals part of the theme, and how lucky to be in a G&S production ( I wish I’d kept all my programmes). My mum used to take me to the theatre to see Doyley Carte Opera productions so I grew up withy G&S. Luckily my husband enjoys them too and we had the march from Iolanthe as our wedding anthem!

Love love love G & S. A friend's mother used to take us with her to see performances. So much fun. Last year and raced out and puchased copies of some of the ones I didn't already have. Drives the menfolk a bit mad so I have to wait for them to leave before I put them on the turntable.

How fun that the first photo is black and white and the second is in color. Seems to suit the story line. I must search out some Gilbert and Sullivan -- I can't remember seeing/watching/hearing (though I'm sure I must have and just didn't know it). Was your mom able to help with your costume? I remember from a previous post that she sewed very well.

About Me

I have been interested in family history for years. It all began when I was allowed as a child to look through the old family photographs and memorabilia kept in a shoebox in the cupboard at my grandfather's house. That treat started me on a fascinating ancestral trail.